Marlins top Giants 7-2

Updated 10:57 pm, Sunday, June 23, 2013

Buster Posey added, "We've always fed off of his high energy. When he swings the bat, he can definitely be a game-changer."

Not many times over the years have the Giants needed a productive Sandoval more than now. Sunday's 7-2 loss to the once-lowly Marlins was more of the same for a Giants offense that scored eight runs in four games, three ending with Miami victory lines.

Sandoval is scheduled to come off the disabled list (left foot strain) before Monday night's game at Dodger Stadium following his brief rehab assignment with Class A San Jose, during which he went 4-for-6 with two homers.

He seems cured, and the Giants hope they'll be, too, with Sandoval's return.

Marco Scutaro's safe call is wishful thinking. In fact, he was thrown out trying to take second on a throw to third after his single in the eighth, with the Giants trailing by a run.

Marco Scutaro's safe call is wishful thinking. In fact, he was thrown out trying to take second on a throw to third after his single in the eighth, with the Giants trailing by a run.

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

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Miami's Justin Ruggiano is greeted by Ed Lucas after Ruggiano hit his second homer of the game, off Jean Machi in the ninth.

Miami's Justin Ruggiano is greeted by Ed Lucas after Ruggiano hit his second homer of the game, off Jean Machi in the ninth.

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 23: Marco Scutaro #19 of the San Francisco Giants gets called out at second base as Derek Dietrich #51 shows the ball after the tag in the eighth inning at AT&T Park on June 23, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) less

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 23: Marco Scutaro #19 of the San Francisco Giants gets called out at second base as Derek Dietrich #51 shows the ball after the tag in the eighth inning at AT&T Park on June 23, ... more

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 23: Logan Morrison #5 of the Miami Marlins races around the bases to score on an RBI double from Marcell Ozuna #48 in the fouth inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on June 23, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) less

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 23: Logan Morrison #5 of the Miami Marlins races around the bases to score on an RBI double from Marcell Ozuna #48 in the fouth inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park ... more

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

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Marlins top Giants 7-2

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"I don't think you can put that much pressure on Pablo, but it certainly should do something for the club," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We need a lift right now, and he's a big bat, a presence in the lineup. Hopefully, he'll take a little pressure off the other guys who are trying to do too much."

The other guys were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position Sunday, 4-for-32 in the series, and had gone eight games without a homer until Hunter Pence's solo shot in the seventh inning Sunday. The homerless streak lasted 90 innings and 1,352 pitches.

Nathan Eovaldi (six-plus innings, two runs) was the latest Miami starter to stifle the Giants, following Tom Koehler and Jacob Turner, both of whom yielded one run in seven innings. The starter who had the most trouble, Ricky Nolasco (5 2/3 innings, three runs), is someone linked to the Giants in trade rumors.

The home team's only win in the series required 11 innings, which is how long it took to grind out two runs.

"You can try to make excuses, but, really, we didn't get guys in when we needed to. We didn't throw the ball like we needed to," Cain said. "We had some games that we had the lead, and we didn't finish it off. You've got to really say, hey, it's over with. We've got another big road trip coming up."

Cain surrendered three runs in six innings Sunday, and the score was 3-2 in the eighth when the Giants threatened, briefly. Marco Scutaro hit a one-out single that sent Gregor Blanco to third. But on right fielder Giancarlo Stanton's throw to third, Scutaro tried advancing to second and was thrown out.

Posey grounded out to end the inning and was pulled before the ninth by Bochy, who said he wanted to keep catcher Hector Sanchez (who pinch hit in the eighth) in the game for a possible left-handed at-bat against closer Steve Cishek.

Jean Machi gave up four runs in the ninth, so Cishek wasn't needed. Justin Ruggiano, who hit Cain's second pitch for a homer, hit Machi's last pitch for a homer, and the Giants had their first losing homestand in 10 months.